Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Aisa Bhi Hota Hai

If I miss the 8:15 bus then there is no other bus. Utkasrha was talking to himself while scurrying through a short cut to the nearby bus stop. Suddenly, Utkarsha felt that somebody is chasing him. He turned back to check if somebody is there and then started running. A group of stray dogs were after him so he had to run faster than the dogs. He was able to save himself at the cost of all the energy he had. His nicely ironed shirt was wet with the sweat. Utkarsha was not frustrated as he reached the bus stop earlier than he expected but the bus had started moving out of the bus stop. So he ran after the bus but it was too late.

The hunt for the auto started.

Utkarsha: Auto…Auto…..Autooooo….

Either the Autowalas didn’t like his face or they thought that it will be embarrassing to have Utkarsha in their Automobile. None of them stopped.

Then a girl came. She didn’t signal any auto rickshaw but all the Autowalas going through that road (Some took ‘Schumacher’ wala U turn without even caring about the traffic) came to her and asked “Kidhar Jana Hai Madam”. But the girl was waiting for somebody else so she disposed the proposal of every revered Autowala. All of them were dejected. As they moved their Automobiles forward, Utkarsha signaled all of them one by one but they gave him a cold stare and moved.

The girl received a call and after she disconnected she started calling the auto rickshaws. Utkarsha: Excuse me.

Girl: Yes.

Utkarsha: Can you please do me a favor? Actually, I am getting late for the office and none of the respected Autowalas are honoring my request. But, I think they will agree to go anywhere if you call them. Are you going towards the Airport Road?

Girl: Yes. I mean No.Utkarsha: Don’t be afraid. Please help me otherwise I shall be late. Hope you can understand.Girl: Ok. But you shall have to pay the fare. I won’t pay a single penny.

The expressions of the Utkarsha’s face changed but he controlled himself and agreed to pay.

In some time they reached the Airport Road. Utkarsha asked the driver to stop.

Girl: Pay the amount being displayed in the meter. I have to go further. I shall pay the remaining amount.

Utkarsha paid the fare and left.

Utkarsha reached the office late by half an hour. He logged in into his system and the first message that he saw was from the boss. The boss had asked him to meet him as soon he gets into the office. He was scared that today he is going to loose another half day leave even though he was late for half an hour only. He went to meet his boss.

Utkarsha: Hi!Boss: Hi Utkarsha. So you are late again. I just cannot understand why you can’t start early from your home. Anyway, today I am not going to ask you to apply for leave.Utkarsha: (Why the boss is generous to me today?)(Bracket main hansi)Boss: You have done wonderful job yesterday. Keep it up.

Utkarsha was wondering how everything was going positive on that day. He came back to his desk. It was another hectic day for him. He didn’t want to wait for the bus so he tried for the auto again.An auto stopped suddenly. Utkarsha ran to the auto and what he saw inside it made him smile. It was the same girl who met him the morning. She asked him to sit inside. He got into the auto and thanked her for helping him again.

Utkarsha: Thanks.Girl: It’s ok.Utkarsha: Have you got name? Myself Utkarsha.Girl: Reena.Utkarsha: What are you into? I mean what do you do?Girl: I am a software engineer.Utkarsha: Where are you working?Girl: (Some Company).Utkarsha: Good.

Autowala: Kidhar Jana hai? Lefta loon ya Righta…?Utkarsha: Left.Girl: Right (both of them spoke simultaneously)Utkarsha: I shall get down here. See you tomorrow at 8:15 PM at the bus stop.Reena: Bye

Then next morning Utkarsha reached the bus stop with a hope. Hope was a reality now. She was there waiting for him.